Mobile Legends Returns to the U.S. After Temporary Ban
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Loading... - Edrice Sabry
- 29 Jan 2025
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Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), a popular multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game, has made a comeback in the United States after a brief ban that took players by surprise. Since its launch in 2016, MLBB has garnered a massive following, allowing players to choose from over 100 unique heroes and engage in real-time matches. The game has consistently ranked among the top mobile games, with 7.6 million app downloads in December 2024 alone, contributing to a staggering total of over 641 million downloads and a peak monthly user base of 100 million.
On January 19, 2025, American fans were caught off guard when MLBB was banned in the U.S. This action followed the ban of TikTok under the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (H.R.7521), which prohibits the distribution and maintenance of applications from companies deemed adversarial by the U.S. government. Since MLBB was developed by Moonton, a subsidiary of ByteDance (the parent company of TikTok), it was classified as a potential data threat under this new law.
MLBB was not alone in facing this ban; Marvel Snap, a digital collectible card game published by a ByteDance subsidiary, was also removed from American app stores shortly after TikTok's ban.
Fortunately, the bans were temporary. After 48 hours, the MLBB development team reassured players through a post on the game’s official Facebook account, announcing that the game was back online. Players were instructed to simply open the downloaded game to resume playing, and those who lost access during the ban would receive missed activity rewards along with a small mystery gift.
While many players expressed relief at the game's return, some found themselves in a difficult position after uninstalling the app during its brief absence. Despite being restored, MLBB remains unavailable on both the App Store and Google Play Store in the U.S., leaving players uncertain about whether they can reinstall the game. Comments on MLBB’s Facebook post highlighted these concerns, with players asking about reinstallation options and expressing frustration over in-game issues, such as the inability to purchase diamonds.
As of now, the development team has not specifically addressed the absence of MLBB from U.S. mobile stores, but players are hopeful that future updates will provide clarity on the situation. While the game’s return is a positive development, the ongoing unavailability in mobile stores remains a pressing issue for many fans eager to dive back into the action.
